MINDSET - Helping Your Child Fulfill Their Potential
Why is mindset important?
Carol Dweck, Stanford Professor of psychology, has spent decades researching achievement and success. She identified two mindsets, 'fixed' and 'growth'. Our mindset affects the way we interact with and make sense of the world, and how motivated we are to learn new things.
- In a 'fixed' mindset people believe that abilities, intelligence and talents are fixed traits - in other words, that you have a certain amount of ability and that you can't do much to change or improve upon that.
- In a 'growth' mindset people believe that, with practice dedication and hard work, abilities can be developed. This view creates a love of learning and resilience leading to personal challenges and a greater likelihood of a person being their very best.
Growth mindset can be taught and it creates motivation and productivity, not just in education, but in business and sports. It enhances relationships and increases achievement.
The following video explains the concept and how it is being embedded in Guernsey schools.
What can you do to help?
Every word and action sends a message. They tell children how to view themselves. Some messages promote a fixed mindset by saying, "You have permanent traits and I'm judging them". Some promote a growth mindset by saying, "You are a developing person and I am interested in your development"
The most important thing you can do as a parent to instil a growth mindset is to praise them for their efforts, for trying, having a go and learning from mistakes, rather than praising them for talent or for being clever or a 'natural'.
We are committed to supporting the development of a growth mindset in all its schools. A TEDx talk delivered by Educational Psychologist, Rachel Sykes and Guernsey Sports Commission's Jeremy Frith on the concept of a growth mindset is available to view here.
